An overview of choral activity in Latin America, including cathedrals, missions (particularly Jesuit missions), and musical centers such as the Escuela de Chacao in Venezuela and the Escola Mineira in Brazil. The 20th century witnessed a renaissance of choral music, along with the development of national conservatories and a variety of choral institutions. A regional survey highlights some of the activities in Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico; the Caribbean region, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic; and the Andean region, including Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chili, and Uruguay. Composers have been inspired by the burgeoning choral ensembles, writing music that may use contemporary compositional techniques, popular music, folk music, as well as arranging popular music for choirs.
Much of the music literature of churches in the Philippines was destroyed during World War II, particularly in Manila. Marcelo Adonay (1848–1928) was one of the major figures in Philippine music of the 19th century European traditions and styles of choral music prevailed in Latin America; however, the period of 1810 to 1830 witnessed efforts towards independence from Spain in many areas, including music. Unfortunately, this independence weakened some of the institutions that supported and produced music, including the church. A brief survey is provided of sacred, theatrical, and civic choral music (the major venues, composers, organizations, works, and developments) in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Venezuela, the Andes region, the Rioplatense region, Brazil, and Spain.
